Increased security at local middle schools

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - A Mesa County Valley school district is planning to increase school safety by hiring security officers who can patrol schools, but they can't make arrests.

School District 51 says the officers will be armed, trained and in uniform like law enforcement officers.

According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, the district will start with two security officers this spring, with one based at East and Orchard Mesa middle schools and another based at West and Bookcliff middle schools.

Officials say middle schools were picked because security officers are expected to be able to handle the disciplinary issues common at middle schools while school resource officers with arrest powers concentrate on high schools, where disciplinary issues are more likely to escalate to crimes.